Accused in CM attack case receive award from him

DYFI district secretary Binoy Kurian and district president Biju Kandakkai receive a sapling and best environment activity award from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the State-level launch of the Haritha Keralam project in Kannur on Thursday.

The irony of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presenting an award to two persons who are among the accused in a case of attack on him was not lost on the people in the audience watching the event.

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) district secretary Binoy Kurian and district president Biju Kandakkai, third and fourth accused in the case of the attack on Mr. Chandy during his visit here on October 27, received the award from him at the State-level launching of the Haritha Keralam here on Thursday morning.

The DYFI leaders represented the DYFI committee, which is among the organisations that were selected for the awards for environment protection activities.

Payyannur MLA and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader C. Krishnan, who is named as the first accused in the charge sheet, was on the stage to offer felicitation.

Tight security

The function was held amid tight police security. Senior police officers, including District Police Chief P.N. Unnirajan, were present when the two DYFI leaders received the award from the Chief Minister.

The special team that investigated the case had filed the charge sheet in the local court here on May 26. It named 114 Left Democratic Front workers as accused in the case.

Police sources said as the charge sheet had already been filed in the court, the question of arresting the two accused did not arise.

Mr. Kandakkai, who was named as absconding in the charge sheet, had appeared before the court after the charge sheet was filed, they said adding that he had been granted bail by the court.